The Foreign Office has issued a warning to Britons travelling to a popular tourist destination following a surge in deadly bear attacks.
Japan, which sees hundreds of thousands of British visitors every year, has seen a record level of wildlife-related deaths.
Japan's Environment Ministry has revealed that 88 people were attacked by bears in October alone.
While most victims survived, seven of the encounters proved to be fatal, according to NHK World Japan.
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The figure represents Japan's worst month for bear attacks in more than 10 years.
In response, the Foreign Office has issued a warning to Britons hoping to visit the popular Asian destination.
It reads: "Bear sightings and attacks have increased in parts of Japan, especially in mountainous and forested areas, including near populated zones.
"Follow local advice and alerts, and take precautions if travelling in these areas."
Japan's Environment Ministry has revealed that 88 people were attacked by bears in October alone
|REUTERS
Britons were also urged "research the region to learn about the local wildlife" and "avoid walking alone in areas where bears have been sighted".
To avoid attracting the animals, the Foreign Office advised travellers to "take all rubbish with you, including food waste", and to "report any sightings to local authorities".
In Japan, 184 people were injured in bear attacks with 12 fatalities between April and October this year.
The mountainous region of Akita saw the highest number of bear-related casualties, with 56 reported.
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'Follow local advice and alerts, and take precautions if travelling in these areas,' the Foreign Office says
|REUTERA
Meanwhile, 34 have been injured in Iwate, 20 in Fukushima and Nagana has seen 15.
It comes just weeks after Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced that members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces would be dispatched to help get a grip on Akita's bear casualties.
The Governor of Akita, Kenta Suzuki, said: "Exhaustion on the ground is reaching its limits.
"Attacks targeting the neck and face are extremely common, resulting in a truly dire situation."
The mountainous region of Akita saw the highest number of bear-related casualties, with 56 reported
| GETTYHe pleaded: "The lives of our citizens cannot be protected without the help of the Self-Defence Forces."
There are two types of bear native to Japan.
One is the Asian black bear, also known as the moon bear, around 44,000 of which live on Honshu.
The other is the bigger brown bear, 11,000 of which live on the main northern island of Hokkaido and can weigh half a tonne and outrun a human.
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